FAMILY NAME: Cacatuidae SCIENTIFIC NAME: Cacatua sanguinea SUBSPECIES: normantoni, gymnopsis, westralensis
SIZE: 35 to 40cm. (14 to 16") tip to tail.
LOCATION: The four races have their own ranges, and between them they cover almost all of Australia, except for the arid central west. Some are found in eastern Tasmania, they are from aviary escapees.
BREEDING: In the south, breeding season is from August to October, but in the north is longer, from May to October. However, they may breed anytime after good rain. The usual clutch size is 3 to 4 eggs in a nest usually located in tree hollows, but also in suitable openings in cliffs, and also in termite mounds. Both sexes incubate the eggs and care fo the young.
GENERAL: They are a small Cockatoo, found in pairs or in very large flocks. Often seen in large numbers in trees, but they feed mostly on the ground. All four races have some pinkish colour between the bill and the eyes (lores), and all have a white throat (ie: no pink). The underside of the wings are a pale sulphur/yellow. When gathered in flocks, in the treetops, they tend to strip the leaves, and frequently screech.
References:
Michael Morecombe.
Field Guide to Australian Birds, Complete Compact Edtion.Ken Simpson - Nicholas Day.
The Birds of Australia.M. Blakers - S. J. J. F. Davies - P. N. Reilly.
The Atlas of Australian Birds.Birds in Backyards.
www.birdsinbackyards.netGraham Pizzey - Frank Knight.
The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia.
